Is HL French A: Language and Literature scored more harshly than SL?

Not on these figures. The mean grade is 4.9 at both levels in May 2026, and the share of grade 7 is close: 5.5% at HL and 5.7% at SL. The shapes differ a little at grades 3 and 4.

Did results improve compared with May 2025?

Slightly. The mean grade at both HL and SL moved from 4.8 in May 2025 to 4.9 in May 2026. The May 2026 figures are provisional, and a final bulletin follows later in the year.

IB subject statistics

IB French A: Language and Literature grade distribution and average grade, May 2026

By Michael Thompson - Head of Teaching Excellence; 15 years as an IB Coordinator

Published 5 October 2026Data: IB Diploma Programme provisional statistical bulletin, May 2026

Short answer: In May 2026, IB French A: Language and Literature students averaged 4.9 at HL (868 students) and 4.9 at SL (1,103). 5.5% of HL and 5.7% of SL students scored a 7, and the most common grade at both levels was 5.

This page summarises how candidates performed in IB French A: Language and Literature in the May 2026 session. The figures come from the IB's official statistical bulletin for that session. They are from the provisional version, and a final version follows later in the year, so small changes are possible.

In May 2026, 868 candidates took the subject at Higher Level (HL) and 1,103 at Standard Level (SL). Below we look at the mean grade, the spread of grades, the HL and SL comparison and the movement since May 2025.

Key figures

Level	Students	Mean grade	Share of 7s	vs May 2025
HL	868	4.9	5.5%	+0.1
SL	1,103	4.9	5.7%	+0.1

Grade distribution, May 2026

Grade distribution, May 2026
Grade	Higher Level	Standard Level
1	0.0%	0.0%
2	0.3%	0.5%
3	4.6%	7.3%
4	32.7%	26.9%
5	35.5%	37.0%
6	20.9%	21.8%
7	5.5%	5.7%

Grade 1-7, % of studentsHigher LevelStandard Level

Aiming for a 6 or 7 in French A: Language and Literature?French A: Language and Literature tutoring

What the mean grade tells you

The mean grade is 4.9 at both HL and SL. On the 1 to 7 scale this sits just under a 5, so a typical candidate finishes around grade 5 or slightly below. The mean is a summary only: it hides how candidates are spread across grades, which is why the distribution below matters more for setting a personal target.

How the grades are distributed

At HL, the shares are 0% for grade 1, 0.3% for grade 2, 4.6% for grade 3, 32.7% for grade 4, 35.5% for grade 5, 20.9% for grade 6 and 5.5% for grade 7. At SL they are 0%, 0.5%, 7.3%, 26.9%, 37%, 21.8% and 5.7%. These are shares of all candidates, and a small remainder received no grade. Grade 5 is the most common result at both levels (35.5% at HL and 37% at SL), but well under half of candidates in each case. Grades 1 and 2 are rare at both levels.

HL compared with SL

The two levels look very similar. Grade 7 accounts for 5.7% of SL candidates and 5.5% of HL candidates, and grade 6 is 21.8% at SL against 20.9% at HL. The clearest gaps are lower down: grade 3 is 7.3% at SL against 4.6% at HL, while grade 4 is 32.7% at HL against 26.9% at SL. These are shares, not head counts, and SL has more candidates. Why the shapes differ is open to interpretation. One possibility is that candidates who choose HL differ in their language background or motivation, but the bulletin does not show this.

Movement since May 2025

The mean grade rose from 4.8 in May 2025 to 4.9 in May 2026 at both HL and SL. That is a small step of 0.1 at each level. A shift this size may reflect the particular cohort rather than any change in how the subject is assessed, so it is best read as stability rather than a trend.

What this means for choosing and preparing

The identical mean grades are not, on their own, a reason to prefer one level over the other. The choice between HL and SL should rest on your language strength, your interest in literary analysis and your wider subject mix. If you are aiming for a 6 or 7, remember that only a minority of candidates reach those grades at either level, so steady practice with written analysis and oral work is worth planning from the start. Candidates targeting a secure 5 are in the most common group and can use past tasks to find where marks are lost.

Key takeaways

The mean grade is 4.9 at both HL and SL in May 2026 (provisional bulletin).
Grade 5 is the most common result: 35.5% at HL and 37% at SL.
Grade 7 is awarded to 5.5% of HL and 5.7% of SL candidates.
Both levels rose from a mean of 4.8 in May 2025, a change of 0.1.

Frequently asked questions

Is HL French A: Language and Literature scored more harshly than SL?: Not on these figures. The mean grade is 4.9 at both levels in May 2026, and the share of grade 7 is close: 5.5% at HL and 5.7% at SL. The shapes differ a little at grades 3 and 4.
Did results improve compared with May 2025?: Slightly. The mean grade at both HL and SL moved from 4.8 in May 2025 to 4.9 in May 2026. The May 2026 figures are provisional, and a final bulletin follows later in the year.